VOLUNTEERS: Michigan

April 20, 2009

The Tribune runs a list of opportunities compiled by the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan.

To find out about these or other volunteer opportunities, call (269) 983-0912 in the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor area or (269) 683-5464 in the Niles area. Or visit the Web site at www.volunteerswmi.org; or e-mail volunteer@volunteerswmi. org. To arrange an appointment, call ahead.

Spotlight of the Week

Be a part of the largest national one-day food drive. The National Association of Letter CarriersÂ? annual drive is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 9.

You can stay at the post office and help move donated food at the loading dock, or you can walk or drive with letter carriers to pick up food along mail routes. Volunteers of all ages are welcome.

Adults

The Michigan Community Blood Center needs volunteers for a variety of tasks, including answering phones, folding T-shirts, mailing letters or serving juice and cookies at drives.

Lakeland Hospice needs volunteers with reliable vehicles to pick up prescriptions, get mail, take a patients to appointments and go grocery shopping for a patient or care giver.

United Way of Southwest Michigan and the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph YMCA have partnered to launch the successful, international Girls on The Run program in Southwest Michigan. This prevention program for girls in grades three through five combines self-esteem enhancing lessons with running workouts and games to develop the whole girl including her physical, mental, emotional and social self.

The 13-week program culminates with a 5K- community run on May 21 at the St. Joseph High School track.

As a running buddy, you can come out that one evening at 5 p.m. and share your excitement about running. Register by Thursday to receive a T-shirt.

The Domestic Violence Coalition in Paw Paw holds the annual Maggie Coleman Memorial Golf Outing as their chief fundraising event. As the event coordinator assistant, you will follow up on solicitation letters for hole sponsorships and golfers for the event on June 19 at the Beeches Golf Course in South Haven.

Give blood.

The Berrien County Chapter of the American Red Cross has a drive Thursday at Celebration Cinema, 1468 Cinema Way, Benton Harbor, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

The Michigan Community Blood Center has a drive today at Upton Middle School, 800 Maiden Lane, St. Joseph, from 1 to 7 p.m.

Families

Relay for Life is the American Cancer SocietyÂ?s 24-hour national signature event. You can become involved by rallying a team, joining the planning committee, walking a lap or making a donation.

Youth

Ronald McDonald House Charities has a family room at Memorial Hospital in South Bend and has a teen board to help young people get involved with a global charity at a local level. Teens perform community service and outreach.